10718 N.E. 68th St., Kirkland WA 98033
www.studio-east.org
Contact: 

?Carolyn Agan, Artistic Director | 425.820.1800  | [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STUDIO EAST SUMMER TEEN MUSICAL MOVES TO JUANITA HIGH SCHOOL 
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

After 22 years of bringing summer musical to Kirkland Performance Center (KPC), price increases for space rental forces Studio East show relocation

KIRKLAND, WA: Studio East Training for the Performing Arts will bring its Summer Teen Musical, Mean Girls – High School Version, to audiences July 27 – August 4 at the Juanita High School Performing Arts Center.  After 22 years of staging the annual community favorite at Kirkland Performance Center, price increases for space rental at KPC made presenting the musical there unaffordable.

“While we, of course, were initially very disappointed that our students won’t be given the opportunity to perform at KPC’s beautiful venue, we are really grateful to Juanita High School for hosting Mean Girls – High School Version this summer,” Artistic Director Carolyn Again said. “It’s a beautiful stage, it’s conveniently located just 10 minutes from downtown Kirkland, there’s lots of easy, free parking and the team there has been wonderful to work with.”

The significant price increase for space rental at KPC would have created a financial deficit for the Studio’s annual Summer Teen Musical program, making presenting the show there untenable. 

“As a nonprofit that serves local kids, we strive to always keep our money in our programming, not in unnecessary overhead,” Agan said. “Rising rental rates at KPC, as well as other performance venues in the area, are making it increasingly difficult for non-profits like ours to find affordable places to bring our programming. This opportunity at Juanita High School came through at exactly the right time.”

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This will be the first time Studio East has staged Mean Girls – High School Version.  Showtimes include Saturday and Sunday afternoon matinees and Saturday evening performances. The popular Broadway musical is based on the 2004 film; both the movie and musical book were written by Saturday Night Live alumnus Tina Fey.  Music is by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin. The show is presented by Jim Wallen and Representative Amy Walen.

Tickets to Mean Girls are available for purchase at https://studio-east.org  

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About Studio East
Founded in 1992, Studio East provides best-in-class theater education, performance skills, and audience opportunities to inspire, train, and entertain young people through engagement in the art and craft of theater.  Serving over 6,500 students annually through classes, camps, workshops, intensives, student mainstage and school- based enrichment and artists-in-residency programs, they also serve a post-pandemic audience of over 45,000 through their student mainstage, summer teen musical and StoryBook Theater productions.

About Studio East’s Summer Teen Musical (STM)

The annual production provides a showcase opportunity for teens (ages 13-19) wanting an advanced, professional quality community musical theater experience. While the STM features students who have honed their skills through the years at Studio East, it also features drama students from around the Greater Puget Sound. Behind–the-scenes opportunities, including student musicians performing in the orchestra pit, are also provided. Recent shows include Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, The Wizard of Oz, Grease, and The Sound of Music.